TotC: Bulleit to the Heart

Drink number one of our Tales of the Cocktail roundup will be made by the venerable Gary Regan.

I used to dislike Gary when he was just a bloody limey, but when he became a U.S. citizen and I finally got to meet him face to face I learned to suppress my animosity. Not that he’s all bad, after all, he did compose one of the key letters that allowed me to get a work visa for the U.S. (it’s too late to retract it, Gary), but still, is it necessary to keep making fun of my toques, poutine, and Canadian whiskey, eh? It’s not like he’s an expert on whiskey or food himself.

Gary’s cocktail, remarkably (insert sarcasm here), was bourbon based, with the bourbon of choice being Bulleit. I had the opportunity to meet Tom Bulleit just three days before Tales and let me tell you that he was as delightful as his whiskey. If you haven’t had the opportunity to taste it, go out and get some, it’s one of my “value whiskey” picks.

Anywho, Gary paired this whiskey with Cointreau, lemon and another one of his favorite liqueurs, Pama. I normally try to stay clear of anything trendy (read: pomegranate), but the guys at Pama do a real good job with this one. Overall a tasty libation indeed, with the bourbon holding its own with the liqueurs.

Although the average person would have served this “up” cocktail in a cocktail or “martini” glass, anyone who knows Gary knows that he serves all of his “up” drinks in a Champagne glass. While this was not the case during the Cocktail Hour, as all drinks were served in plastic cups, the recipe card clearly states that this was to be the case.

Don’t tell Gary this, but I may have gotten him in trouble with David Wondrich. Knowing that they have a bit of a rivalry going on, when I was at David’s table, I informed him that although Gary had said that David’s drink would be terrible, as he didn’t have the practice or experience of Gary, I thought it was a fine cocktail. He laughed and took it in good stride (witnesses, you know), but I wouldn’t be surprised if later in the day, David gave Gary his own, personal: